“They're curious by nature. And what we're trying to see is, how do we get that curiosity to extend back into their infrastructure and their plans.”

Universities are micro-cities in themselves. They are where you live, work and play alongside your peers. They are places of intense productivity, creativity and ingenuity. 

Universities are both figuratively and literally places to experiment and try new things. For the energy transition, they can prove to be valuable test beds with an engaged citizenship and an appetite for the new. 

“We don't need to wait for more breakthroughs of technology. There's a lot of technology that already exists that can then that can make a big difference… But that challenge on this scaling and working together from the technology side and embedding them into complex, real-world places, that's what needs to be done.”

Joining David Weston on Energy Enablers this week is Faye Bower, vice president of the Higher Education Vertical at Siemens Smart Infrastructure. 

We look at why universities are ideally suited to trying new low-carbon technologies, how to go about getting innovations installed, and why today’s generation of students makes for ideal guinea pigs. 

“Nearly half of the prospective students out there said that they would choose a university with strong sustainability credentials over ones that are ranked in the global top 100, so it's a pretty clear signal that sustainability now is right up there.”

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“Modernisation for industry—not only does it bring along all the benefits for reduction in carbon, meeting environmental goals, it also brings along a slew of benefits from a technological perspective, and thus from a business perspective.”

The decision to electrify your processes now goes beyond the climate benefits it brings. It has now become a strategic business decision with financial advantages as well, particularly for energy-intensive sectors. 

Beyond securing cost-effective electricity, electrification also provides a crucial shield against unpredictable price fluctuations and supply chain disruptions. This stability allows businesses to operate with greater confidence and predictability, fostering long-term growth and resilience.

“If you wanted to build out this year, can you get solar panels? By and large, the answer will be [that] you're likely able to get solar panels. Can you get a turbine this year? The answer to that is no, you cannot get a turbine this year. Can you get it in the next five years? By and large, what we hear, the answer to that is no as well.”

This week on the Energy Enablers podcast, David sits down with Thomas Kwan, global vice president for strategic innovation and industrial ecosystems at Schneider Electric. Their discussion explores how industrial modernisation almost automatically brings decarbonisation, highlighting how these two concepts are intrinsically linked.

They also emphasise the vital role of behind-the-meter assets in supporting the electrified infrastructure of industrial processes—key to ensuring a robust and efficient energy system.

“As we think about the energy infrastructure of the future, our grid is not going to look like the grid of the past. There will be more of a bi-directional relationship, not just of the electrons, but of the stakeholders involved.”

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"Is it a feature, or is it a bug? And I think we could say it's both. It's part feature, it's part bug."

Way back in 2014, renewable power generation curtailment was a nascent issue, while the hybridisation of renewables was still a novel concept. Today, both are commonly found across the wind and solar sectors. 

On this episode of Energy Enablers, David is joined by Jan Cornillie, Director of Advisory Services at 3E. They discuss why renewable energy projects are being sited in less-than-optimal locations, which is exacerbating curtailment challenges. 

"Battery storage can deliver a solution where you actually master the solution. You can install it, you can learn how to operate it, and you can learn how to fix your problem with grid curtailment."

The problem is exacerbated by current electricity market designs and regulations that lag behind technological advancements. Flexible grid connections, responsive regulatory incentives, and clear price signals are crucial for effectively managing variable renewable energy.

Technical solutions are emerging to manage the peaks and troughs of supply and demand. Hybrid renewable energy projects (wind, solar, storage) are becoming common. Decentralised solutions empower developers and consumers with greater energy system control.

"Without tripling of renewables, we will not stop global warming. Even with tripling of renewables, it will take a bit more than that."

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"I am definitely seeing a pivot in how sustainability and decarbonising organisations have been talked about in terms of value rather than just regulation."

Even for those of us in the energy sector, the energy transition is a tricky business. But there is one thing that's clear to everyone, from big companies to individual homes: switching to low-carbon energy is good for the planet and good for your wallet.

On this week’s episode of Energy Enablers, Gerard Gallagher, EY Global Sustainability Leader — Clients & Industries, explains how businesses are increasingly driven by opportunities like cost-efficiency and innovation, rather than just regulation, in their approach to energy transition and decarbonisation.

"I'm a big fan of taking all of the complexity out there and thinking about those three phases of measure, plan, and act."

Gallagher identifies three steps businesses should take when discussing their decarbonising strategies: measurement, planning, and action. 

He then highlights the need for "hyper-collaboration" across a business and with external stakeholders to get the full buy-in to decarbonisation efforts. 

"Sustainability has got a new best friend. It's capitalism."

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It's widely known that solar power is the fastest-growing clean generation technology, and for good reason. For the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector, securing stable, low-cost electricity and its green credentials are key drivers in the uptake of new capacity.  

On Energy Enablers this week, David is joined by Leandro Netz, Head of European Sales at Solnet, a Dutch solar equipment and services provider. They discuss how and why the C&I sector wants to adopt solar amid trade tensions and supply chain concerns. Netz also tells us how SMEs can take advantage of all the benefits solar can provide.

Leandro and Solnet will be at the Intersolar Event in Berlin in early May, so you can hear more from them there. Remember to join the conversation on the FORESIGHT app.

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Europe’s industries want to decarbonise but remain globally competitive at the same time. That is where the wind sector is looking to step in and provide the green electrons needed to electrify factories and manufacturing centres. Industries have a growing appetite for what wind is offering, so how do we best bring the two to the same table? 

In the latest episode of Energy Enablers, Sam Morgan is joined by WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson, for a discussion about the sector’s industrial decarbonisation potential, what policies are in place to enable that and what steps need to be avoided. 

Leave your thoughts below or on the FORESIGHT app.

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Existing technologies can take us a long way towards our goal of a decarbonised economy. But innovation remains crucial for accelerating this progress and eliminating any lingering emissions. Startups are therefore key to this by developing new technologies and services to tackle challenges like integrating renewable energy into grids.

In the latest episode of Energy Enablers, David Weston is joined by Sebastian Schaefer, Senior Innovation Manager and Programme Lead at the E.ON Grid Startup Challenge. Schaefer explains E.ON's how active collaboration with startups fosters an "innovation ecosystem" through initiatives like the Grid Startup Challenge and Free Electrons. 

Leave your thoughts below or on the FORESIGHT app.

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While cyber attacks against renewables projects are still rare, the risk associated with such activities is growing, particularly in a world with an unpredictable geopolitical environment.  

Digital infrastructure is essential for developing and operating clean energy generation. However, the expanding digital ecosystem creates more opportunities and entry points for malicious cyber actors.

On this week’s episode of Energy Enablers, Sebastian Hess, Chief Risk Officer for the Cyber team at insurer Riskpoint, discusses the emerging cyber threats that could disrupt generation and the insurance sector's role in combatting them. 

FORESIGHT published long-form analyses on the cybersecurity of both renewables and buildings in our recent print magazine. You can listen to those articles on the FORESIGHT app.

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We often talk about the technical aspects of electric vehicles (EVs), like how they connect to the power grid and the use of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology. However, we rarely consider their impact on society. 

This week, European power sector trade association Eurelectric is hosting its annual EVision event on e-mobility in Brussels. To coincide with the event, Eurelectric and partner EY have released a new report emphasising the importance of smart charging for a sustainable and resilient energy system.

In this episode of Energy Enablers, David Weston speaks with Gabrielle Clark, energy and climate policy officer at Eurelectric, about the report and how EV adoption will benefit society in general. 

Clark underlines the need for consumers to take an active role in their energy management and the importance of education so individuals can make the best decisions for themselves and the wider energy network.

Join the conversation about EV adoption on the FORESIGHT app, where you'll also find other podcasts and in-depth content on the energy transition.

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The concept of digital twins has been discussed across the energy sector for years. From city-wide grid systems to individual wind turbines, creating a virtual copy of an asset to assess its performance is gaining traction. However, for many, it remains an abstract idea.

In the latest episode of Energy Enablers, David Weston is joined by Fergal Burke, Chief Revenue Officer of Siemens Grid Software, to demystify digital twins, particularly within the context of grid systems and their role in the energy transition.

Burke sheds light on the tangible impact of digital products on our lives and their potential to drive decarbonisation. He uses the analogy of comparing a paper map to Google Maps to illustrate the workings of a digital twin. Burke also emphasises the critical importance of data quality, "Your network is only as good as its data." 

To delve deeper into this discussion and explore other energy-related topics, download the FORESIGHT app and join the conversation.

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As a clean generation source, offshore wind has been around since the early 1990s. Since then technological advancements and supersizing innovation have turned offshore wind from a small, nice-to-have sector to a full-scale, must-have industry. 

The insurance sector has grown and evolved similarly, particularly when considering the energy transition. With the number of risks growing by the day in the renewables space, the insurance sector must keep up. Because without effective coverage, projects would grind to a halt and become untenable. 

In this episode of Energy Enablers, David is joined by Tom Kristiansen, lead risk engineer for renewable energy at Riskpoint, an insurance solutions provider specialising in renewable energy coverage. 

Tom discusses how the insurance sector has had to quickly adapt to offshore wind's emerging role as a powerhouse of clean energy generation and how to balance the need for new but untested technologies with the predictable, reliable workhorses of the sector. 

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

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The relationship between water and energy is centuries old—just think of the water wheels used to grind flour. Nowadays, as well as hydropower generation, water is also central to many industrial processes from power generation to data centre cooling. 

This week’s guest on Energy Enablers is Karthik Laxman Kunjali, CEO of Stockholm Water Technology, which manufactures and sells products for sustainable and circular purification of water for homes and industries. SWT’s mission is to provide clean water for the planet with its patented electro-capacitive technology.

In this conversation, Karthik and I look at the meaning of the energy-water nexus, the relationship between treatment energy and other industrial processes. We also discuss why having an efficient and effective water treatment technology is vital to both emerging and developed economies.

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The price of purchasing a new electric vehicle (EV) and then having to pay for and install all the additional infrastructure that comes with it, can still be offputting for many potential owners. 

However, the argument for making these investments is getting stronger by the day. 

The growth of vehicle-to-grid charging technology is adding to those arguments. The ability to provide flexible grid services and earn extra income is increasingly becoming an attractive business proposition for EV operators of all sizes—from fleets to private owners.

In this episode, David speaks with Lisa Calearo, a Senior Research and Development Engineer at Danish charging platform developer Spirii. Lisa talks about the emerging vehicle-to-grid technology, making the argument for owning an EV stronger and how it supports the wider low-carbon energy network. 

Let me know your thoughts on vehicle-to-grid technology and how to overcome its challenges in the contribution section below.

Enjoy the show. 

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Mention blue hydrogen in a conversation about the energy transition and you’ll get a mixed response. In the spectrum of hydrogens, blue hydrogen is produced from natural gas through a process that captures and stores the carbon dioxide. So some see it as a barrier to a cleaner greener future, while some view it as a bridge. 

Compared to Europe, the US is much more open to developing blue hydrogen technologies. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act set out specific supports for hydrogen production based on carbon intensity—instead of the production process—opening the door for firms to build blue hydrogen facilities. 

In this episode, Henrik Rasmussen, managing director of The America’s at Topsoe joins Energy Enablers to discuss the American experience with blue hydrogen. He also explores the appetite for low-carbon energy carriers.  

Let us know your thoughts by joining the conversation below.

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At the COP28 climate discussions in Dubai, the clean energy sector celebrated worldwide support for its double-down, triple-up campaign. The pledge saw governments commit to tripling renewables generation capacity and doubling the energy efficiency improvement rate by 2030. 

On the eve of COP29, we can see how much has been achieved in the previous 12 months. The IEA’s Renewables 2024 report found that the world is set to install more than 5500 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable energy capacity between 2024 and 2030—almost three times the increase seen between 2017 and 2023. 

Energy efficiency improvements, meanwhile, remain stubbornly slow.  

Brandon Spencer, the president of ABB Motion, joins Energy Enablers to discuss the value of energy efficiency in terms of emission reductions but also in financial gains. The conversation touches on making the case for energy efficiency investments so uptake can accelerate towards that double-down target.  

Let us know your thoughts by joining the conversation below. 

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The use of hydrogen in the energy sector is an idea that isn’t going anywhere. But there are many hurdles that need to be overcome if it is to truly impact the quest for a decarbonised economy. 

While it is a clean-burning fuel and can take advantage of using renewable generation so it doesn’t go wasted, questions remain over its efficiency, difficulties in transporting it, and, in some instances, reliance on carbon capture technologies—which have their own controversies. 

The guest on this week’s episode of Energy Enablers is Minh Khoi Le, Head of Hydrogen Research at Rystad Energy. 

Minh offers his perspective on the development of low-carbon hydrogen in the energy transition and its role in the quest for a decarbonised economy. He also highlights natural hydrogen as an area of interest for the sector. If you want to know more, FORESIGHT recently published this deep dive on natural hydrogen—also called white or gold hydrogen.

Or, if you want to hear more, check out this recent episode from our Talking Transitions series on the hydrogen sector’s underdeveloped supply chains and financial constraints.

Let us know your thoughts by joining the conversation below.  

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Joining David on Energy Enablers this week is Werner Coppye, co-founder and CTO at 3E, a provider of digital solutions for renewable energy projects. 

They discuss how digital twins have developed over recent years and look at how new technologies like artificial intelligence are changing the way digital twins are being used. 

Enjoy the conversation and share your thoughts in the contribution section below.

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Such models were not possible in a market dominated by internal combustion engines. In this episode of Energy Enablers, David speaks with Torben Fog, chief innovation officer at Danish EV charging platform provider Spirii. 

Torben discusses some of these new opportunities including demand response and frequency regulation services. They also touch on the barriers that are delaying the growth of these models, such as a lack of transparency and grid constraints. 

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In this episode of Energy Enablers, Babara Frei, executive vice president of Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric, tells David about how a new generation of digital technologies, dubbed Industry 4.0, are improving the industrial sector’s decarbonisation efforts. 

Barbara was keen to point out that the new technologies will provide workers and technicians with opportunities rather than replace the jobs. 

Enjoy the conversation and share your thoughts in the contribution section below. 

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If grid operators were able to access and manage that capacity—of course, without impacting the vehicle owners—it could go a long way in supporting the energy transition. 

In this episode of Energy Enablers, David is joined by Stefan Perras, head of predevelopment & innovation for e-mobility charging at Siemens Smart Infrastructure. 

They talk about the primary benefits of bi-directional charging for EVs for users and the broader electric grid and how bi-directional charging might shape the evolution of electric mobility in the coming years.

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In this episode, recorded on the fringes of the Green Zone at COP28 in Dubai, David speaks to Andy Cox, head of energy transition at insurance broker Howden. 

Andy puts forward how insurance can play a vital role in creating safe, bankable projects and how it can support the carbon credit and offset markets. 

Howden recently introduced a new insurance facility to mitigate the risks associated with carbon dioxide leakage from commercial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities. The facility, crucial for the financial viability of CCS projects, covers liabilities related to carbon credits and allowances, aligning with the growth of the global carbon market.

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With many alternative propulsion options available to sea-faring vessels, a major hurdle is deciding which technologies are viable. Danish chemicals engineering firm Topsoe is pursuing ammonia - produced using renewable energy - as one such option. 

David met up with Topsoe’s chief commercial officer Elena Scaltritti at the COP28 event in Dubai to learn more about the company’s work in this area and why it could be a contender in the shipping sector. 

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Minimising energy usage through efficient and sustainable programmes will make the renewable energy target much easier—and cheaper—to achieve, while lowering customers’ energy bills. 

In this episode of Energy Enablers, David catches up with Mike Umiker, managing director of the Energy Efficiency Movement, an industry-led association supporting greater efficiency in the industrial sector.

Recorded on the fringes of the COP28 discussion in Dubai, Mike makes the case for greater energy efficiency for the industrial sector and how businesses can take advantage of these measures today. 

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